A feud between China and President Donald Trump places local farmers in the line of fire.

China rolled out new tariffs on ag commodities and other products in retaliation against President Donald Trump's approval of taxes on imported steel and aluminum.

The new tariffs on American exports could hurt Americans nationwide, and will hit close to home, farmers said. Among commodities impacted the most are Tulare County's top producing crops including almonds, walnuts, grapes and citrus.

According to the most recent Tulare County Crop and Livestock report, Tulare County almonds were a $301 million crop, walnuts racked in $137 million and grapes brought in $600 million.

American farm exports to China in 2017 totaled nearly $20 billion, including $1.1 billion of pork products. China is a top customer for Tulare County's farmers and ranchers.

Exports from Tulare County have nearly doubled in the last couple years.

"Tulare County’s exports to China grew quite a bit from 2015, 2.3 million cartons exported, to 2016 with 5.4 million cartons exported," said Tricia Stever Blatter, executive director of Tulare County Farm Bureau. "Certainly it will impact exporters here in the Central Valley, and particularly Tulare County."

A glance at U.S. products targeted by China's tariff hikes, including pork, sparkling wine. https://t.co/iFb5FOI5Pt

Fearful farmers

Leaders in the California Citrus industry spoke out on the new tariffs, saying there wasn't enough time to discuss the agriculture industry and the strained relationship between China and Trump.

"The decision by the Chinese government to levy exorbitant tariff increases on U.S. produce will surely have a direct impact on California citrus producers," said Joel Nelsen, CEO of California Citrus Mutual. "Maintaining access to foreign markets and having the ability to compete in a global marketplace are critical to the success of the citrus industry."

Nelsen said the recent tariffs are impacting consumers and producers who are "are innocent parties to a trade debate."

"The retaliatory tariffs imposed by China hinders our ability to be competitive by increasing costs for Chinese consumers, an important market for California citrus," Nelsen added. "Family farmers in our industry will suffer from the economic fallout unless we can find alternative markets for California's navel and Valencia oranges and lemons."

Nelsen and CCM officials are traveling to Washington D.C. this week to meet with Congress and Trump staff regarding trade and other important issues weighing down the California citrus industry, officials said.

"California farmers depend on trade for a living, so we are quite concerned about the retaliation resulting from the tariffs announced," said Sara Neagu-Reed, legislative associate for the California Farm Bureau Federation. "We would prefer to see the executive branch working to open more new markets. We are continuing to remind our trade officials of those goals."

In the past four years, U.S. farm income across the spectrum has fallen by about 50 percent, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.

He said if trade continues to deteriorate, "our lives as farmers and ranchers will become more difficult," and "retaliation in the trade arena makes our outlook even worse."

Brenda Alvarado packs seedless Ivory grapes for Sundale Vineyards on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. Recent heat waves and humidity have reduced the number of hours per day crews can work.(Photo: Ron Holman)

Tariffs

China’s Customs Tariff Commission is increasing the tariff rate on eight imported U.S. products, including pork, by 25 percent. It’s also imposing a new 15 percent tariff on 120 imported U.S. commodities.

Most goods targeted for 25 percent tariffs are varieties of pork, which China is the No. 3 American export market.

Chinese regulators also imposed 15 percent duties on apples, almonds and dozens of types of fruit.

Trade War

In addition to tariffs on fruits, vegetables and pigs, China also placed a tariff of materials including steel and aluminum. Now, they're extending the taxes to transportation.

Stainless steel and alloy pipes used for petroleum or natural gas, will receive a 5 percent tariff and scrap aluminum will suffer a 25 percent tariff.

Beijing said the timing of the 25 percent tariff on 106 items will depend on what Trump does about plans to raise similar charges on Chinese goods.

Also suffering from the feaud between Trump and China is Boeing’s popular 737 aircraft, which will see a 25 percent tariff increase.

If the tariffs go into place, they could significantly hurt Boeing and travel generally, according to experts.

China's announced tariffs on cars, chemicals and planes came hours after the Trump administration also proposed 25 percent tariffs totaling $50 billion on 1,300 categories of goods. The threat of a trade war sent stock prices tumbling.

Boeing’s stock price fell 2.3 percent to $323 by 1 p.m. Wednesday

Trump denied a trade war with China in a tweet Wednesday after China’s announcement. The U.S. bought $375 billion more in goods and services from China last year than it sold there, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

We are not in a trade war with China, that war was lost many years ago by the foolish, or incompetent, people who represented the U.S. Now we have a Trade Deficit of $500 Billion a year, with Intellectual Property Theft of another $300 Billion. We cannot let this continue!